Sometimes things break down or don’t work the way you want them to, and you don’t have time to fix them properly. That’s okay; there are many ways you can fix things, at least temporarily, until you have more time and money to fix them the right way. Some of these fixes can actually be permanent, too.
Home
* Unclog Drains – Have a lightly clogged drain? Put three Alka-Seltzer tablets plus one cup of white vinegar down the drain. Let it foam up and when it stops foaming, run clear water through the drain. Repeat as needed. You can also use baking soda first, then vinegar if you don’t have Alka-Seltzer.
* Clean Toilet Bowls – Use leftover soda to clean your toilet bowls. Just pour it in, let sit overnight, and then scrub clean in the morning. Great for pets, too, because it won’t harm them if they decide to take a drink out of the bowl before you flush.
* Rid Your Floors of Scuff Marks – The best solution for scuff marks is to put a tennis ball on the opposite side of the broom and use that to “erase” the scuff mark.
* Broken Glass Uses – Use broken glass in the bottom of your planters instead of rocks for drainage.
* Broken Hanger Clips – Use the clips to keep food from spoiling, such as bread, chips, and brown sugar.
* Squeaky Doors – Temporarily fix a squeaky door or any hinge with crayon wax, Vaseline, or cooking oil. It’ll hold for a few days or even weeks while you wait to save money for a more permanent fix.
Auto and Home
* Stay Clean – Dip the tips of your nails in soft soap like Ivory Soap before working on the car. Any grease or dirt that gets under your nails will wash right out.
* Filling Holes – Rental apartment? Want to get your deposit back? Fill holes with a mixture of Krazy Glue plus baking soda to make a thick paste. Fill in holes, let dry, then sand and paint.
* Remove Stickers – You can use WD40 to remove stickers, but if you don’t want to get the item greasy, try using canned air instead. Turn the can upside down before spraying so that it “wets” the area and freezes the area. Remove sticker with ease.
* Duct Tape – This can be used for anything from taping up the falling fabric under your couch or easy chair, to fixing a cracked dustpan so it will still work until you can get to the store. Now that it comes in more colors you can keep your repairs around longer.
Office and School
* Crayons – If you have a lot of old crayons you can melt them down, add the melted wax to an old pill bottle, and cut away after the wax is hard for creative crayons. You can also use an old glue stick container to do the same thing.
* Broken Zipper – Use a paperclip to make an easy zipper pull replacement.
* Stains – Keep some seltzer water on hand for accidental spills. Treat immediately for best results. Works on clothing, ties, and most fabrics if used immediately.
No need to have a breakdown over minor repairs if you can think creatively about how things work. Remember that even normal household items can have more than one use. For example, an old bottle scrubber can be turned into a fun Christmas tree decoration. If that’s true, the sky is the limit and only your creativity can hold you back.
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